Match-box.



o. s. ROBINSON. MATCH- BOX.

APPLIO-ATIORHLED MAY 22, 190B.

Patented Apr.'27, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

"llllll hu ml wit woes Aar/e 9 5.6 0451; 01/.

c. s. ROBINSON."

MATCH BOX.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 22, 1808.

919,639. Patented Apr. 27, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

. 1 gviwato'a with ease:

rnz NORRIS r'zrsns cm, wnumorcu. o c.

UNITED STATES PATENT onrron UHARLES S. ROBINSON, OF WALNUT LOG,TENNESSEE, ASSIGNOR F ONE-HA L1 TO I. O. WARD,

OF WALNUT LOG, TENNESSEE.

MATCH-B OX.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 27, 1909.

Application filed May 22, 1908. Serial No. 434,342.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, Ormnnns S. Ronrxsox, a citizen of the United States,residing at \Valnut Log, in the county of Obion, State of Tennessee,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Match-Boxes; and Ido hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the in vention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The invention relates to match boxes and more particularly to the classof match boxes or cases for automatically ejecting a single match. fromthe same.

he primary object of the invention is the provision of a match box orcase for receiving a plurality of matches, one of which is aulonmticallypositioned in the box or case to be partially ejected therefrom, saidbox or case having a hinged cover or lid controlling a tension plungermember, the latter adapted to project a single match from the box uponthe opening of said cover or lid.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a match box which issimple, inexpensive, compact and of a character from which matches areadapted to be delivered one at a time as desired.

\Vith these and other objects in view the invention consists in theconstruction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter morefully described and claimed, and as illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings showing the preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings Fignre 1 is a side view of the invention having itsfront broken away at its bottom and with the cover or lid in a closedposition. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view with the lidor cover of the casing in its opened position and showing a matchprojecting from said casing. Fig. 3 is a top view of the casing with thecover in an opened position. Fig. 4; is a front end view of the casingshowing the cover partially closed.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout theseveral views in the drawings.

In the drawings the numeral 5 designates generally, the match box orcase preferably constructed of metal and of flat formation and includesspaced parallel side plates 6 and 7 each of which have marginal engagingflanges S bent at right angles to the said side plates and adapted tooverlap each other and secured in any desirable manner to form closedtop and bottom end walls 9 and opposite side edge walls 10 of the caseor box.

IVithin the box or case 5 a distance removed from the bottom end wall 9is a base plate 11 which latter is secured to the side plate 7 and uponwhich rest the lower ends of a row of matches 12 contained within thebox or case. Projecting from the said plate 7 and extendinglongitudinally in close proximity to one side edge wall 10 is apartition 13 having at its lower extremity a right angular extension 1+lforming a housing for receiving a coiled expansion spring l5 the lowerend of which has its bearing against lhclmltom end wall 9 and itsopposilc end bearing against an enlarged head 16 at the lower extremityof a plunger such as a rod or pin 17 slidably mounted in the space 18between the side edge wall 10 and the partition 13 and its opposite freeend adapted to project through an elongated slot or opening 19 formed inthe corner of the top end wall 9 of the box or casing and which slot oropening produces a discharge exitfor the matches contained within thebox or case.

In the lower extremity of the partition 13 is a slot 20 through whichprojects a lug 21 extending from the head 16 of the said plunger 17, andthis lug 21 is adapted to engage the lower end of one of the matches 12positioned in the path of the slot 19 forming the discharge exit. forsaid match whereby the same is projected a distance through said slotbeyond the box or case upon the outward movement of the plunger 17 whenreleased.

Slidably mounted in the box or case 5 between the side plates 6 and 7respectively, is a follower plate 22, the opposite extremities of whichare secured to a bowed extremity 23 of a flat spring 2 bent outwardlyand upwardly on itself and having its opposite end secured against theinner face of the upper extremity of the side edge wall 10 of said boxor case. It is apparent that the follower plate 22 under the action ofthe spring 24 will advance the row of matches 12 within the case or boxso as to bring a single match in the path of the slot 19 and to have itslower end engage the lug 21 whereby upon the release of the plunger 17said match will be partially ejected from the box or case through theexit slot in the top thereof.

A cover or lid 25 is hinged at 26 to the outside of the side edge wall10 and is adapted to be brought to a closed position to depress theplunger 17 and overlie the exit slot 19 thereby closing the same.Depending from the front edge extremity of the cover or lid 25 is atongue 27 having a depression 28 which engages with a catch 29 forming alock which extends outwardly from a yieldable leaf spring 30 secured atits lower end to the inner surface of the side edge wall 10, this catch29 normally projects through an opening 31 in said side edge wall 10 andto release the catch 29 there is provided a stud 32 secured to the leafspring 30 and projecting through an opening 33 formed in the wall 10adjacent the opening 31 and which stud terminates in an enlarged headforming a press button 3% whereby the catch 29 can be disengaged fromthe tongue 27 to release the cover or lid 25 so that the same may beopened thereby permitting the plunger 17 to automatically eject a singlematch from the box or case 5 through the exit opening or slot 19 uponthe opening of the cover or lid.

What is claimed is A match box of the class describedlcomprisinginterfitting flanged side sections forming a closed case containing anopening in the forward corner of its top, a hinged cover normallyclosing said opening, a plunger adapted to project through said opening,an enlarged head formed 011 the lower end of the plunger, an expansionspring acting upon said head to elevate the plunger upon the raising ofthe cover, base plate disposed above the bottom of the case to permit amatch to be engaged by said head, and spring cont-rolled follower meanswithin the case to advance matches into the path of movement of the headfor automatically projecting a single match through the opening upon theraising of said cover.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature, in presence of twowitnesses.

CHARLES S. ROBINSON.

Witnesses VICTOR GLOBE, S. H. HAYES.

